Shock absorber



' malte it particularly adapter; t

Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

10H11 A. STEVENS, GF LVELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO STEVENS PRODUCTS COMANY, GF LGJVELL,

A CGRFGRATION OF DELAWARE.

SHOCK AESOR-BER.

Application led September 9, 1926. Serial No. 134,406.

This invention relates to shock absorbers and more paA shocks caused by the quick relative movement ot two members. One specific application ot the invention is a device intended for use in connection with vehicles to absorb the shocks caused bv the n evenness oi the road and while the `inven is not limited to this useI` it has manv advantajes which A l lhereto.

llt the p 4ent time automobiles and other vehicles are provided with springs which absorb the bter shocks so that the occupants thereor are subjected to shocks only ot the greatest intensity` which are so'"'1.ned

`rtially absorbed? so that a rol it, atorv motion all that is n malty iit Howeven when travelig'h s ds or over roue roadsT and in'any case distances` even this notion becomes disagreeable and in some instances is the cause or" an illness similar to seasickness. It is one of the objects of this invention to counteract this disagreeable motion both by cushioning the initial shock and by slowing up or dampening the rebound or recoil therefrom. rlhis second action is especially important in the case oit automobiles equipped with balloon tires. which themselves act as shock absorbersi but do not slow up the rebound, which results in the undulating' or oscillating` motion above described. This invention is designed to overcome these difhculties'. A further object of the invention is to provide a device which may be easily assembled 'troni comparatively simple inexpensively made parts and which n'iay be used 'for a long period of time with little or no care. For this pun pose the invention concerns itself to a great extent with the means tor adequately lubri* eatingV the bearii'ic` surfaces ot the device in such a. wav that actual introduction ot lubrication material need only be made at very infrequent intervals. provision beingmade for retaining' the material within the device and feeding it fast may be necessary to the parts where friction might occur. @ther objects and advantages oi the invention will be apparent trom a reading ot the sub-joined description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the sinOjle figure is a view ot the dev" a suhstai .ally in ve foal section ted to them.

cularly to devices 'for absorb--r `Tl e numeral 1 designates the usual semiellip ical leaf spring mounted on the aXis of a vehicle and adapted normally to support the usual chassis or trame 2 by a connection shown in broken lines at 3. lVhen the device embodying this invention is introduced between springs 1 and the chassis or frame 2, the bracketat the end ot the frame 2 is cut ott' preferably on the line 4, and a special bracket 5 which may be intel gral with the body 6 o1c the device may be attached to the trame 2 by rivets 7 or other desired fastening means.

A piston generally indicated at 8 may be pivotally connected to the springs 1 at f) and provided with upper and lower bearing' portions 10 and 11 respectively, the lower bearing portion 11 being provided with an elongated hollow sleeve 12 havingits end internally screw threaded for the reception ot a boss 13 which may be integral with the upper bearing portion 10. A piston rod 14 is threaded into an opening in the bearings: portion 10 and may be provided at its upper end with a head 15 for a purpose later to be described. The upper end of the casing` 6 may be provided with an rinturned diaphragm portion 16 having an aperture 17 at its center for the passage of the piston rod 14; the aperture 17 may be provided with an annular groove in which may be placed a fibrous or metallic packing, here shown in cylindrical form, for the purpose of preventing oil, grease or other materials from passing above the diaphragm 16. A domo 18 may be connected with the top of the casing` 6 in any suitable manner. for example by a plurality ot peripherally spaced stud screws 19. This dome 'forms a compression chamber 2O and has therein a jacket or carcass 21 of rubberized canvas or other suitable material. having therein a ball preferably of rubber which may be inflated through a valved opening 23 provided with a valve of the typeY ordinarily used in connection with pneumatic casings. The pis-ton head 15 is adapted to bear against the lower portion ot the carcass 21 so that compressible fluid such as air within the ball is further compressed on movement of the piston S in an upward direction.

The bearing portion 10 is provided with an outwardly flaring Harige portion 211 which adapted to receive and retain the endniost ,within the sleeve member 12.

turn ot a helical springr 25 which normally terminates short et the diaphragm. Spring 25 is adapted to assist in supporting a heavy superimposed load which may be placed in the vehicle to which the device attached. and in any'case is called into action upon .an extremely heavy shock to act in tandem with the compression chaml er in opposing1 movement ot the piston in an upward direction.

A butter 25 preteralily et rubber is provided below the piston head l5 ilor `the purpose ot resiliently cushioning and stoppingI the downward n'iovement ot the piston after a predetermined movement by contacting with the diaphragm member 15.

The casing 6 is provided with a plurality ot peripherally spaced bolts QG havingv reduced portions 27 at their inner. ends which al'e adapt-cd to support an annular rine' Q3. spring' 29 extends` between the ringv 2S and the under part ot the bearingY portion l0. which Spring` is effective to absorb the recoil from the initial shock or movimient olf the piston in a downward direction.

The casingmay be provided at its tor-` ward portion with an extension 30 adapted to support a bumper 31 extcndinejlbetween two shock absorbers attached to the t'ront or rear of a vehicle. which bumper may be attached by a yoke portion 32 held to the extension 30 by a nut and bolt 33, the bumper being' forced against the extension 30 by means ot a studscrew 34 threaded in the Joke portion 32.

It desired a breather 35 may be inserted in the casing- 6 between the normal position ot the bearing portion 10 and the `diaphragm 16.

Lubricating means are provided in con-v nection with the device comprising' an oil cup 36 screwed into a passage in the wall of the casing 6 between the diaphragm 1G and the normal position ot the bea-ringportion l() or other luln'icatiuzcr nu terial hereinafter referred to as oil entering `trom the cup 3G will be distri'lmted about the top ot the bearingl portion l0 and will pass between this portion and the wall olt the casinpt 6 into the annular `-groove 37 in this bearing` portion. which groove will redistribute i-t substantially equally about the periphery ot the bearing'. A passage 3 8 is provided 'loetween the space above the bearing portion l0 and a bore 39 within the stud 1.3. iirturn communicatingwith' the hollow portion portionis pre'lerably lilled with some fibrous absorbent material indicated at 43() so thatl oil 'from above the bearing portion l0 will be conducted through the 'passage and bore 39 into the material t0 which will be This hollow 1,e55,20s Y the bearing portion ll. rthe oil will then be dis'stributed about this bearing', thence into the. annular groove e2 where a portion will be redistributed to lubricate the lower part ot the bearingv and the. remainder conducted through a passage Li3 lo the-beariim il, whereby all ol the bearings ot the device will beV lubricated by the introduction oll oil into oil cup It desired an additional oil cup le may be provided in the side ot the casing G for the introduction ot oil between bearing portions l0 and l1.

It will be seen that I have provided a shock absorber which will absorb the initial shocks, lprovide additional resistance to eX- treinely heavy shocks or additional supporting means tor heavysuperimposed load-s on the device and will cushion the recoil. At the same time fl have provided a device which is comparatively simple to construct and which is provided with vlubricating; means ctlective properly to lubricate the device even though oil is introduced at in- Yfrequent intervals. l do not wish 'lo be limited, therefore, except by the scope ot the appended claims as many slight, changes and inodilications in the device may be made. V

claim:

l. A device tor absorbing the shock caused by the quick relative movement ot' two rineinber's comprising` a casing' fixed to one of said members. a. piston operatively connected to the other vot'said members havin;` a slidingiA contactV within said casing. a collapsible pneumatic jacket within 'said casina` connected to said piston and adapted to be compressed or expanded with relative movements of said members and a single opening for the insertion ot lubricating` material for all the relatively moving bear-ing surfaces ol the device.

2. A device tor absorbing` the shockV caused by 'he quick relative nmveineut ot two members' comprising a casinar tir-:ed lo one ol said members. a pistou operatively connected to theother ol said members having` a. slidiu` contact within said casing. al collapsible pneumatic jacket within said casina connected to said piston and adapted to be compressed or expanded with relative movements ot said members and means 'lor lubricating all the relatively moving contacting surfaces in the dev-ice comprisingl an oil opening' adjacent to the top ot .said casing' and passages in the piston for distributing' the oil. to the bearing surfaces.

i Y device for absorbingr the shock caused b v the quick relative movement ot two members comprising' a casing' fixed to .one o'tl said members, a Vcollapsible pneumatic jacket within said easing', a piston connected vto said jacket and operatively connected to the other ot said members, said piston having sliding contact Wit-li' said casing` an oil inlet opening above the piston, whereby oil inserted therethrough will lubricate the contacting' surfaces or the piston and casing, and a passage t'rorn above the piston to its connection with said other member vt'or leading' oil to that connection.

el. A device for absorbinp'- the shock caused by the quicl; relative movement olf two members con'iprisiuc` a casino' tixed to one ot Asaid members. a collapsible pneumatic jacliet within said casing, a piston connected to said jacket and operatively connected to the other of said members, said piston having' a sliding' Contact within said casing` an opening' in the casingabove the piston tor the insertion ot' a lubricant, a hollow portion in the piston adapted to re tain a quantity of lulwicating` i atcrial, and passages leading trom. above the piston to said hollow portion and thence to all oit the relatively inovab e contacting surtaces ot the device.

5. A device for absorbing the shock caused by the quick relative movement ot two members comprising` a casing' fixed to one ot said members, a piston operatively vconnected to the other ot said members having' a sliding contact within said casing', said piston having` two enlarged portions bearing' againstthe inside of the casina', a coin stricted hollow portion subsan't-a lly filled with ibrous material between said'enlarged portions, means on the outside of said casing 'tor introducing` oil into the device to lubricate the upper bearing portion, a passage communicating between the hollow portion and the space above the upper bearing` portion whereby the tibrous material may be saturated with oil. and means for perniitting` the oil from t ie fibrous material gradually to flow to the lower bearing portion and to the connection between said piston and said other member.

(i. A device tor absorbing` the shock caused by the quick relative movement ot two members comprising' a. casing' fixed to one ot' said members. a piston operatively connected to t ie other ot said members havine` a part bearing` against the inside oi said casing, a compression chamber within said casing lillcd with a con'iprcssiblc fluid, said piston having a hollow portion for the re` ception of lubricating' material, a passage from said hollow portion to one oi' the bearings of the device,y an abutment on said casing and a spring surrounding' the hollow portion extending between said abutment and a shoulder on said piston, said compression chamber opposing' movement oft said piston in one direction and said spring` opposing movement of said piston in the opposite direction.

7. A device for absorbing the snoek caused by the quick relative movement of two members comprising a casing` fixed to 8. device tor absorbi tl caused by the ciuclr relative two members e mpi a casing' one oit said mei bers 'ia-ving a cy' chamber tl'iereinu a` piston operatively nected to the other oit said niembn's, said piston having a plurality ot spaced bearing4 portions thereon adapted` to slif1 'fitbin said cylindrical chamber, a compression chamliier adjacent to one end ot' said cylindrical chaniber filled with a comi sible fluid and havine' a tlexible wall, said piston having' a head engagine said wall1 an abutment on casing, and a spring' surrounding' the piston between two ot.' said `bearing; portions and extending' from one ot them to said abutment, said compression chamber opposing movement oit said piston in one dir` lou and said spring' opposing' movement ot said piston in tne opposite direction.

il device for absorbing' the shocl; caused by the quick relative movement oit' two members comprising` casing lined to one et said members havinga cylindrical chamber therein a piston operatively connected to the orner oit said members, said piston having a plurality of spaced bearingl portions thereon adapted to slide within said cylindrical chamben a compression chamber adjacent to one end of said cylindrical chamber tilled with compressiblc fluid and having a flexible wall-` said piston having' ay head bearing against said wall. an abutment on said casing' between said bea rin ,fr portions and said piston. a spring surroundthe piston having; one end lined to thc endmost bearing; portion and the other ond terminating: short ot said abutment, said spring adapted only on an extremely heavy shock to act in tandem with said compression chamber to oppose movement ot said piston in one direction.

10. A device for absorbing the shock caused by the quick relative movement of two members comprising' a casing fixed to one of said members having a cylindrical chamber therein, a piston operatively connected to the other of said members, said piston having a plurality of spaced bearing portions thereon adapted to ide within said cylindrical chamber, a compression chamber adjacent to one end ot said cylin ing portions drical chamber filled with a compressible fiuid andl having a flexible wall, said piston having a head bearing against said wall, an abutment on said casing between said bearand said piston, a springl surrounding the piston having one end fixed to the endmost bearing portion and the ther end terminating short of said abutment, said spring adapted only on an extremely heavy shock to act in tandem with said eoijnpression chamber to oppose movement of .sa-id piston in one direction, a second abutment on said casing, and a spring surrounding the piston between two of said 'bearing portions and extending from one of' them to said second abutment, the last mentioned spring opposing nio-vement of the aiston in the opposite direction.

11. A device for absorbing the shock caused by the quick relative movement of two members comprising a casing fixed to one of said members having a cylindrical chamber therein, a sectional piston directly7 connected to the other of said members, one section of said piston being hollow, cylindrical bearing portions on said piston on Veither side of said hollow portion, a compression chamber adjacent to one end of. said cylindrical chamber, said compression chamber beingfilled with a compressible fluid, a diaphragm separating said compression chamber from said cylindrical chamber having an aperture therein for the passage of the piston, and means in said aperture to prevent the upward passage of oil and other material.

n l2. A device for absorbing the shock caused by the quick relative movement of two members comprising a casing fixed to one of said members having a cylindrical chamber therein, a sectional piston directl)7 connected to the other of said members, one section oi said piston being hollow, cylindrical bearing portions on said piston on either side of said hollow portion, a compression chamber adjacent to one end of said cylindrical chamber, said compression chamber being` filled with a compressible fluid, a diaphragm separating said compression chamber from said cylindrical chamber a having an aperture therein for the passage et the' piston, means for admitting lubricat ing material to the space between the upper bearing portion and said diaphragm, whereby'to lubricate the upper bearing portion, a passage from said space to within said hollow piston, passages from within said hollow piston to the lower bearii'ig portion and thence to the connection between said piston and said other member, wherebyY all the bearings of the device may lbe'simultaneouslv lubricated, and means to prevent the` lubricating material from passing to said compression chamber.

vSigned by me at Lowell, Massachusetts, this 3() day of August, 1926.

JOHN A. STEVENS. 

